Door latching mechanism



Dec. 3, 1963 Filed March 9, 1962 G. C. MAYNARD DOOR LATCHING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 George 6. Maynard Dec. 3, 1963 G. c. MAYNAlD 3,112,945

DOOR LATCHING MECHANISM Filed March 9, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 6 [I0 I Gear e 6. Ma nard [/8 //6 g INf EN TOR.

BY wad-5m.

WWW M United States Patent 3,112,945 DUGR LATCHENG MEijiilAi ligh i George C. Maynard, RFD. 1, Pouitney, Vt. iied With. 9, 1962, Ser. No. 178,662 Ciaims. (Ci. 292-173) This invention relates to a novel and useful door latching mechanism and more specifically to a door latching mechanism which is designed primarily for the purpose of easing the task of unlatching a door.

While the task of unlatching a conventional type of door latching mechanism such as that provided with rotatable handles is not normally difiicult and may be ac complished by some two year olds, if a person having both arms full attempts to unlatch the conventional type of door latching mechanism, he sometimes finds it di'mcult to rotate a conventional doorknob While maintaining a hold on the object which he is carrying. In addition, a per son carrying an object with one hand and having the other hand incapacitated also finds it difficult to operate the conventional door latching mechanism.

While the conventional types of door latching mechanisms may be provided with lever type of handles in lieu of the conventional knob type of handles, and these lever type of handles may be more readily manipulated by persons which for some reason or other may not conveniently manipulate the knob type of handle, the lever type of handle for conventional door latching mechanisms has several drawbacks such as providing a convenient support for children to chin themselves on.

In addition, while the lever type of handle may be manipulated by a persons limb moving in a straight line at substantially right angles to a longitudinal axis of the lever type of handle, if the lever type of handle is horizontally disposed and a person is carrying one or more objects with both hands, to actuate the latching mechanism the person must either raise or lower the load he is carrying while manipulating the latching mechanism. If the lever is vertically disposed, a person carrying one or more items in both hands must move the load horizontally to actuate the latching mechanism in such a manner that the load or the part of his limb which is applied to the lever type of handle will not engage the handle adjacent its axis of rotation. Therefore, it may be seen that the conventional type of door latching mechanism utilizing an actuator rotatable about a horizontal axis is not the most convenient type of door latching mechanism to actuate.

The main object of this invention is to provide a door latching mechanism which may be carried by the free swinging edge of a door at a level slightly lower than waist height and which includes a pair of actuators projecting from opposite sides of the door and including portions thereof mounted for movement in a horizontal plane toward and away from the free swinging edge of the door. In this manner, a person desiring to actuate the door latching mechanism may merely move the actuator from either side of the door through a horizontal plane with whatever part of his anatomy that may be used most conveniently.

A further object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide a door latching mechanism of the type including a sliding latch bolt but provided with an actuator of the type that may be actuated by straight line movement of any portion of a persons anatomy through a horizontal plane with the actuator being constructed in a manner whereby it will afford a mechanical advantage for retraction of the latch bolt thereby rendering the door latching mechanism more easily operable in order that even small children having just learned to walk will be capable of unlatching a door in an emergency.

3,112,945 Patented Dec. 3, 1963 ice Still another object of this invention is to provide a door latching mechanism in accordance with the preceding objects which is constructed in a manner whereby it may be readily substituted for conventional types of door latching mechanisms presently in use and with very little modifications to a door previously having a conventional door latching mechanism associated therewith.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a door latching mechanism in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a door having the door latching mechanism of the instant invention operatively associated therewith;

FlIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FEGURE 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 33 of FZGURE 2 and showing alternate positions of portions of the door latching mechanism in phantom lines;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded perspective view of the door latching mechanism of the instant invention; and

FIGURES 5 and 6 are fragmentary horizontal sectional views similar to that of FIGURE 3 but on somewhat of a reduced scale and showing two modified forms of the door latching mechanism.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral iii generally designates a door which has a free swinging edge portion 12. From FIGURES 2 and 3 of the drawings it will be noted that the door It is provided with a blind edge bore 14 which communicates at its inner end portion with a transverse bore 16 that is formed through the door iii. The door it? includes a pair of opposite sides 18 and 2t) and it will be noted that the door latching mechanism of the instant invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 22. The door latching mechanism 22 includes an elongated bolt casing generally referred to by the reference numeral 24 and it will be noted that the bolt casing 24 is secured in the blind edge bore 14 in any convenient manner and opens outwardly through the free edge portion of the door it) at the forward end of the bolt casing 24 which is alined with an opening 26 formed in a face plate 28 recessed in the free edge 30 of the door to.

From FIGURES 3 and 4 of the drawings it may be seen that the bolt casing 24 includes an inner end wall 32 which interconnects the top and bottom walls 34 and 36 and the opposite side walls 38 and 4%. The side wall 40 is removably secured to its corresponding side of the latch bolt casing 24 by means of a fastener 42 that is normally threadedly engaged in the blind bore 44 formed in the boss 46 which projects inwardly from the side wall 38. Each of the side walls 38 and 40 has an elongated opening 48 formed therein and the openings 48 are alined and form a transverse passage through the latch bolt casing 24.

An elongated latch bolt generally referred to by the reference numeral 5%; is reciprocal in the latch bolt casing 24 and is generally rectangular in cross section although other cross-sectional shapes may be utilized. The latch bolt 50 has a transverse opening 52 formed therein and a compression spring 54 is disposed between the boss 46 and the forward end of the opening 52 and thereby normally resiliently urges the latch bolt 50 toward the forward end of the casing 24 with its shoulder portions 56 abutting the inner face of the face plate 28.

The rear end of the opening 52 is defined by a pair of angularly disposed surfaces 58 and 60 which form a fulcmrn point 62 at their point of intersection which is spaced at substantially equal distances from the opposite sides of the latch bolt 50.

A pair of side plates generally referred to by the reference numerals 64 and 66 are secured to the opposite sides 18 and 20 of the door 10 respectively by means of fasteners 68 and each side plate includes a pair of axially alined journal portions 70 on its outer face. In addition, each of the side plates 64 and 66 has a sleeve portion 72 projecting outwardly of its outer face. A pair of hollow handles 74 and 76 are pivotally secured to the side plates 64 and 66 respectively by means of pivot pins 78 passed through the apertures 80 in the handles and the journal portions 70 on the side plates. The outer or remote ends of the handles 74 and 76 define pockets 82 and 84 respectively for the reception of the corresponding end portion of an elongated connecting operating arm generally referred to by the reference numeral 86. The pockets or recesses 82 and 84 loosely receive the opposite end portions of the connecting operating arm 86 and it will be noted that each of the handles 76 and 74 includes a pair of abutment surfaces 88 and 89 disposed for engagement with adjacent portions of the corresponding mounting or side plate to limit the oscillatory swinging movement of the handles 74 and 76.

It will be noted that the sleeve portions 72 are alined with the bore 16 and the alined openings 48 defining the passage through the latch bolt casing 24 and the opening 52 formed through the latch bolt 50.

With attention now directed to FIGURE 3 of the drawings it may be seen that when the free end of the handle 74 is pushed rearwardly to the position illustrated in phantom lines the corresponding end portion of the connecting operating arm 86 will also swing away from the free edge 30 of the door 10. This will of course also effect movement of the mid-portion 90 of the arm 86 away from the free edge 30 whereupon the engagement of the mid-portion 90 with the fulcrum 62 or point of convergence of the surfaces 58 and 60 will urge the latch bolt 50 toward the rear end of the casing 24 remote from the face plate 28 and thus out of engagement with a keeper carried by the door jamb (not shown) with which the door 10 is associated.

Upon release of the handle 74, the compression spring 54 will return the handle 74 to the position illustrated in solid lines in FIGURE 3. Of course, the handle 76 could be moved in a similar manner to effect a similar rearward movement of the mid-portion 90 of the connecting operating arm 86 in order to again retract the latch bolt 50.

It may be seen that a mechanical advantage approaching two to one is effected by the structural components of the door latching mechanism 22 thus enabling the extreme free edge portions of the handles 74 and 76 to be urged toward the release position by a little more than one-half the thrust needed to retract the latch bolt 50 against the tension of the spring 54.

With attention now directed to FIGURE of the draw ings, there will be seen a modified form of door latching mechanism which is generally designated by the reference numeral 92. The only parts of the door latching mechanism 92 which are different from corresponding parts of the door latching mechanism 22 are the side plates and handles. The side plates 94 and 96 of the door latching mechanism 92 constitute guideways for mounting the handles 98 and 100 for rectilinear reciprocal movement. The handles 98 and 100 are provided with pockets 102 and 104 respectively very similar to pockets 82 and 84 but which'are spaced somewhat closer to the corresponding sides of the door 166. The side plates may or may not be provided with stop means for limiting rectilinear reciprocal movement of the handles 98 and although these limit means need not be provided inasmuch as reciprocal movement of the handles 98 and 100 is limited by the amount of reciprocal movement of the latch bolt 108 in the latch bolt casing generally referred to by the reference numeral 110.

With attention now directed to FIGURE 6 of the drawings, there will be seen a still further modified form of door latching mechanism which is generally referred to by the reference numeral 112 and which includes side plates and handles very similar to those utilized in the door latching mechanism 92. However, the remote ends of the connecting operating arm 114 of the door latching mechanism 112 is pinned to the handles 116 and 118 by means of pins 120. In addition, the opening 122 formed through the latch bolt 124 snugly embraces the connecting operating arm 114 and prevents the latter from being canted relative to the longitudinal axis of the latch bolt 124. Accordingly, rearward movement of either of the handles 116 and 118 will effect similar movement of the other handle. It may of course be observed from the drawings that the operation of the latch bolt mechanisms 92 and 112 is substantially identical to that of the door latching mechanism 22.

As all three of the door latching mechanism 22, 92 and 112 may be operated by movement of a portion of a persons anatomy moving in a horizontal plane and without restrictions such as relatively immovable portions of the actuating handles, it may be seen that herein described is a door latching mechanism which may be far more easily actuated.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A door latching mechanism comprising an elongated horizontally disposed bolt casing adapted to be secured in a door edge portion between opposite sides of the door and with the forward end of said casing opening outwardly of said edge portion, said casing including means defining a passage extending transversely therethrough and elongated longitudinally thereof, an elongated latch bolt longitudinally reciprocal in said casing and including means defining an opening extending transversely therethrough and registered with said passage, a pair of mounting plates adapted for securement to opposite sides of said door on opposite sides of said bolt casing, a pair of handles each movably mounted on the corresponding one of said mounting plates for reciprocal movement of at least one portion thereof in a horizontal plane longitudinally of said bolt casing, an elongated lever arm extending through said casing and bolt and mounted therefrom for angular displacement about a selected one of two axes normal to said plane and disposed at the opposite ends of said lever arm, the opposite ends of said arm each being engaged with the corresponding one of said one portion for movement thereby, and abutment means cairied by said bolt and engaging the rear side of the portion of said arm disposed through said bolt and preventing rearward movement of said portion of said arm relative to said :bolt whereby the latter will be retraoted toward the rear of said casing when either end of said lever is shifted relative to the other end by the corresponding handle portion.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said abutment means is generally V-shaped in section taken along said plane and has its apex engaged with said arm.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said arm memher has an equilateral polygonal cross-sectional shape in order that the arm may be slightly rotated about its longi- (tudinal axis in order to bring successive sides of said arm into engagement with said abutment means.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said one portions comprises a fulcrum point for the corresponding end of said arm upon movement of the other arm away from said forward end of said casing.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said arm includes a connection with said latch bolt for positive movement of the latter only toward the rear of said casing upon movement of the portion of said arm engaged with said bolt toward the rear of said easing.

6. The combination of olaim 1 including means secured between said casing and said latch bolt normally 15 resiliently urging said bolt toward the forward end of said casing.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said handles are slidably mounted on said plates for movement generally paralleling the longitudinal axis of said casing.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said handles are pivotally secured to said plates for movement about axes extending transversely of said arms and easing.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said portions of said handle means are mounted for movement relative to said door between two limit positions.

10. The combination of claim 1 wherein said portions of said handle means each comprises a fulcrum point for the end of said connecting arm remote from the end whose handle portion is being moved.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 159,281 Russ Feb. 2, 1875 2,178,378 Schlage Oct. 31, 1939 2,379,326 Voight June 26, 1945 

1. A DOOR LATCHING MECHANISM COMPRISING AN ELONGATED HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED BOLT CASING ADAPTED TO BE SECURED IN A DOOR EDGE PORTION BETWEEN OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE DOOR AND WITH THE FORWARD END OF SAID CASING OPENING OUTWARDLY OF SAID EDGE PORTION, SAID CASING INCLUDING MEANS DEFINING A PASSAGE EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY THERETHROUGH AND ELONGATED LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF, AN ELONGATED LATCH BOLT LONGITUDINALLY RECIPROCAL IN SAID CASING AND INCLUDING MEANS DEFINING AN OPENING EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY THERETHROUGH AND REGISTERED WITH SAID PASSAGE, A PAIR OF MOUNTING PLATES ADAPTED FOR SECUREMENT TO OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID DOOR ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID BOLT CASING, A PAIR OF HANDLES EACH MOVABLY MOUNTED ON THE CORRESPONDING ONE OF SAID MOUNTING PLATES FOR RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT OF AT LEAST ONE PORTION THEREOF IN A HORIZONTAL PLANE LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID BOLT CASING, AN ELONGATED LEVER ARM EXTENDING THROUGH SAID CASING AND BOLT AND MOUNTED THEREFROM FOR ANGULAR DISPLACEMENT ABOUT A SELECTED ONE OF TWO AXES NORMAL TO SAID PLANE AND DISPOSED AT THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID LEVER ARM, THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID ARM EACH BEING ENGAGED WITH THE CORRESPONDING ONE OF SAID ONE PORTION FOR MOVEMENT THEREBY, AND ABUTMENT MEANS CARRIED BY SAID BOLT AND ENGAGING THE REAR SIDE OF THE PORTION OF SAID ARM DISPOSED THROUGH SAID BOLT AND PREVENTING REARWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID PORTION OF SAID ARM RELATIVE TO SAID BOLT WHEREBY THE LATTER WILL BE RETRACTED TOWARD THE REAR OF SAID CASING WHEN EITHER END OF SAID LEVER IS SHIFTED RELATIVE TO THE OTHER END BY THE CORRESPONDING HANDLE PORTION. 